Skip to main content

Slope TRACER Build




Slope Tracer Build Documentation 

By AREA17

This article has instructions both for the Slope Tracer and the Foam-board Spitfire.




Slope Tracer Build

The Slope Tracer is a great fun aerobatic slope plane. It can fly is a large range of wind conditions and with its EPP fuselage, it can take the rough and tumble.

Wingspan: 1300mm
Weight: 700-900 grams
Wing Loading: 11-14 oz/sqft  32-41 sq/dm
Airfoil: SD6060 mod tip
3 channel two ailerons and one Elevator (no rudder)
EPP Fuselage
Foam core balsa skin wings
Slope Soarer for Intermediate/Advanced  RC Pilots 
Suitable for light to strong winds (10knt-30knts)
Ballast can be adjusted
CoG 64mm from leading-edge

Supplied Tracer Parts

EPP CNC Fuselage
One Set White Foam Wing Cores
One set of Core Flute Tail and Fin
Canopy


Needed:

*1.5mm Balsa Sheeting for wing 2x (1220x150x1.5)
* Balsa Aileron Stock 
* Balsa Leading Edge stock
* 3mmx1mmx750mm carbon strip for fuselage
* Titebond   Original   *3m Super 77 Spray Adhesive
* 5 min Epoxy  
* Controls horns + Linkages 
* Masking tape   
*1600 Mah Nimh 4-5 cell battery (4.8/6v)
*Iron-on covering for both wings and fuselage
* 3 Mini Servo’s 2.6kg  *Servo Extension wires
* 3mm bamboo stick from tailplane, 1.3mm piano wire for canopy

Tools Required:

Sharp Knife, Sandpaper, Covering Iron


Step One: Prepare Fuselage

Cut out access bays for Nose Weight, Battery, Cockpit, Servo Wires, Stiffening Strips and Rear Servo Bay

Use a sharp box cutter, a Dremel with a burr or a hot soldering iron to cut out access for the 90-gram nose weight (8mm each side), battery compartment (8mm each side), and cockpit(15mm each side). These are cut equal amounts on both the left and right-hand EPP fuselage sides. You can just use one side to cut access for wires and the rear elevator servo. (Wires holes about 4mm deep)
Note: You will need to find about 90 grams of lead to fit in the front cavity to ensure the CoG is in the ballpark.  We use a ladle and a blowtorch to melt lead into a useful shape, or you can just cut-up the lead sheet to suit. (25mmx 20mm x17mm thick).  Cut the slot in the fuselage for the bottom and top stiffening 3mm x 1mm carbon strip. The carbon strip can be glued in with CA. Make sure the flat side of the fuselage is flat on the bench while gluing to avoid a twist in the fuselage.





Step Two: Prepare wing


You need to make access cavities for the wing servo wires. This is best done using a heated brass tube. Refer to the wing diagram below for placement. The wires will exit about the middle of the topside of the wing. The servo holes are approx. 55mm from the Leading Edge and 100mm depth on each side.

Prepare 1.5mm balsa skins, best to cut balsa proud with about 5mm overlap over the leading and trailing edges of the foam cores.

1220 mm x 150 mm balsa sheets are ideal as the length is about right with 30mm tip blocks

Join the left and right-hand foam cores and bottom jackets together with 3m Super 77 or 5-minute epoxy.

Use bottom foam jackets to reference cores… the wing should be flat on top.
Use your favourite method to attach skins  Make sure the glues are white foam friendly) ( ie Epoxy/ 3m77/ Carpet Contact/ Titebond etc. 

It's a  good idea to put the cores back in the jackets and apply some weights to the top. This should help keep the wings straight and true.



Step Three: Attaching leading and false trailing edges.

Glue the leading edge strip and a 1.5mm balsa cap on the trailing edge, use masking tape to hold in position until dry. ( Titebond or epoxy)




Step Four: Shaping Leading Edge and sanding trailing edge.

The leading edge needs to planed or sanded to shape, as a guideline the Leading Edge tapers from about 10mm and the root to 6mm at the tip. The profile gauges supplied should be used to check the correct shape.  Sand false trailing edge to the balsa skins. Glue tip blocks in place to give a wingspan of 1300mm. Shape tips.


Step Five: Shape Ailerons

The ailerons should be about 50mm at the root(220mm) and 28mm at the tip(120mm)
You can use 50mm aileron stock or use a suitable balsa block to shape. The Ailerons start 60mm out from the wing center. You can lightly tack or tape the stock to the false trailing edge to help with the shaping. Permanently glue the 120mm centerpiece.


Step Six: Fitting the wing servo's (mini servos such as EMAX ES09MD, TRGY9018mg, many of the slim wing servos are also a good choice for the wings)

Start by cutting out the servo bays, these are 45mm squares at 90 deg to the aileron hinge line. They are positioned 92mm out from the center line and 58mm from the false trailing edge. Fit the servo frame about 2mm below the balsa to ensure the cover is flush with the top. Pick out the foam within the servo frame, you should be able to see the servo wire conduit cut earlier.
Make a penetration on top of the wings to exit servo wires.







Step Seven: Covering the Wing

This is where you need to decide on colours and what film. We find dark colours stand out and it's a good idea to have a contrast between the top and bottom.  The covering can also act as a hinge on the top and bottom.



Step Eight: Attach Wing, Fin and Tailplane

Score a line on the bottom of the coreflute tailplane 30mm back for the elevator. Use the top of the coreflute as a hinge.
Use epoxy to glue both the tailplane first then the fin, it's important to ensure the tailplane is to parallel with the wing and the fin is 90 deg. You should also check the distance from the wingtip to the tailplane tip to ensure both sides are the same. It's a good idea to insert a carbon rod (3mm) or bamboo stick through the tailplane about midpoint to help with stiffness.


You are now ready to glue the wing in position, you can use 5 min epoxy to give yourself some working time to ensure the wing is correctly positioned before the glue sets.  First, apply epoxy to the midsection only, position, and let set. The second step is to create a fillet where the wing meets the fuselage. This can be epoxy or silicon, use an icy-pole stick to create the fillet top and bottom.






Step Nine: Fitting the canopy

Trim the canopy to suit, we like painting the bottom of the canopy to match the fuselage profile, we mark the profile then using masking tape to cover the top of the canopy to profile line and paint the bottom.  We use a wire through the front of the fuselage to hold the canopy.





The finished Slope Tracer ready for balancing. (64mm from Leading Edge)


Step Ten: Control throws and flying

We recommend dual rates on all control surfaces. The Ailerons need some differential to give the best turning and roll performance, as guideline aileron, 7mm up and5mm down. The Elevator needs 5mm up and down. These are good starting points, please tune as required.

Check the CoG 64mm back from the leading-edge, check the lateral balance across the plane, charge the battery and go flying....


Enjoy

Andy and Richard







Comments

  1. titanium flat irons for sale - TITaniumArts
    Buy titanium titanium dab nail flat irons online at best prices titanium trimmer as seen on tv with titanium daith jewelry no trekz titanium pairing fees - TITaniumArts.com. Free shipping with a worldwide shipping microtouch titanium trim walmart rate of 10.99%.

    ReplyDelete
  2. A rollover, or playthrough, is the a number of} of a bonus that you should complete to be able to} gather your bonus money. SponsoredSponsored Produced on behalf of an organization or person that has paid the information provider for production and/or approved publication. I perceive that the information I am submitting might be used to 먹튀사이트 먹튀프렌즈 provide me with the above-described products and/or services and communications in connection therewith. If one firm would not carry out properly, you do not suffer giant losses. In contrast to buying individual shares, returns from mutual funds are comparatively lower. The investor has to risk his or her money on a company doing things right and hope to reap the rewards Holdings and Bet365 are two examples of options find a way to|you possibly can} risk investing in individually.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Foamboard Spitfire Build

AREA17 Foam-board Spitfire (Night Flyer Addition) Based on The FliteTest Spitfire   https://www.flitetest.com/articles/ft-spitfire-build Find us on Facebook    AREA17 CoG on Wing Spar line (65mm from leading edge) Tools Required * Sharp Blade               * Clear tape * Ball Point Pen            * Optional 10mm x 0.5mm carbon blade * Hot Glue Gun            * Icy pole sticks * Set Square Hardware Required to Finish * Motor Brushless 2826 to a 2836 around 1300/1500kv 8x6 prop (looking for 180-220 watts) * 1500-2200 mah 3s lipo min 40c Not suitable for 4s..... * 30-40 amp ESC * 3 Mini servos 1.6kg to about 2.6kg or 4 with an optional rudder eg HXT900/ EMAX ES08A * 4 Extension leads * TX and min 4 Ch RX * Velcro for battery * Control linkages and horns * Paper ribbon attached to fin for combat ** Optional carbon blade spar reinforcement (10mm x 0.5mm) Parts Supplied * Three  Laser-Cut Foam Board Sheets     (Depending on supply can be the brown or white Flite Test foam b
  Combat Monkey Build Wingspan 750mm Laser cut 5mm Foam Board $15   The kit includes: Foamboard airframe components Ply and popsicle sticks for the motor mount. Corflute fuselage underside   What you need to complete: 3 x 9g Mini Servos  HXT900, MG90 etc Motor 2830 1200 kv to 2836 1500 kv 8x6 Prop (folding is better) 1300mah 3 cell lipo 30 amp ESC with BEC Sticky tape for hinges 3 control horns and 1.6mm piano wire 4ch RX Paper Party Streamers  about 40mm wide and at least 5m long   Tools: Hot Glue Gun and Sticks Box Cutter Scrape pieces of foam board to wipe off excess glue. Z bender Build With a sharp blade release all the foam board components from the backing sheet. Carefully deepen the hinge lines on the ailerons and elevator without cutting right through then bend back to form a hinge.  If you cut through, just tape the component back in place with clear sticky tape. Bevel the rearward side of the hinge surfaces forty-five degrees
  The full size  SZD-30 Pirat  is a single-seat multipurpose  glider aircraft  from the  Polish  firm  PZL Bielsko  which first flew in 1966, and started production in 1967. This RC scale version of the SZD-30 Pirat is 3.2 metre wingspan or 21% scale. Wing area:  62sq/dm, 960 sq ins Weight: 2.6/3kg CoG: 76 to 80mm from leading edge Servos: 2x Aileron min 5kg, 1x Elevator min 2.2kg, 1x Rudder 4kg, 2x Airbrake 2.2 kg, Tow Release 4kg (based on deflection at 70kph)  This kit  includes: *Fuselage – CNC Foam cores ready for 2mm balsa planking. $50 *Wings –Built up, kit includes ribs, leading and trailing edges, main spars and shear webs. $60  or EPS foam version cores, jackets and end ribs $50 *Tailplane – EPS foam core ready to be laminated with 1.0mm balsa – $10  *Fin – EPS foam core ready to be laminated with 1.5mm balsa $10 *3d Printed canopy frame $10 *PVC Clear Canopy $10 *12mmx10mm Ali Joiner Bar $5 This kit does not contain electric/electronic components, balsa planking, wing skins,